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SIMPSONS CREATOR IS SPENDING HIS LAST MONTHS GIVING AWAY HIS FORTUNE BEFORE DYING OF COLON CANCER

Post date:

28 Jul 2013 - 1:05pm

The producer of The Simpsons has decided to give his vast fortune away before he dies from colon cancer.

Sam Simon, 58, is spending his final months funding projects that feed homeless people and save animals from being killed in animal shelters.

'The truth is, I have more money than I'm interested in spending. Everyone in my family is taken care of. And I enjoy this,' Simon explained.

Simon created the hit cartoon alongside Matt Groening in 1991 technically retired from The Simpsons in 1993 but still receives tens of millions in royalties every season.

Now after being diagnosed with colon cancer that had spread to his liver and kidneys, Simon has met with financial planners to fund his foundation well after he dies.

He told The Hollywood Reporter that while chemotherapy used to make him feel better, those days are becoming more and more infrequent so now he wants to see the good use his money can do.

'I get pleasure from it. I love it. I don't feel like it is an obligation,' he told the magazine in their write up of Hollywood's 17 top philanthropists.

Simon has set up a food bank in Los Angeles that serves only cruelty-free vegan food, and turned his Malibu mansion into dog rescue where animals who are about to be put down by local shelters are taken, cared for, and then trained to be companions for the deaf.

Close: Sam Simon has no children and is not married so he wants to give his millions to causes he cares about. He was married to actress Jennifer Tilly in the 1980s but divorced in 1991 though they remain close

Wealthy: Simon had a falling out with his co-creator Matt Groening (pictured) and left the show in 1993 but retained a healthy stake in the franchise

He said that the reason he enjoys giving to animals, and charities that work with dogs in particular, is because he is able to see the results quickly.

'One of the things about animal rights, which is not the only thing that I care about in this world, is that your money can bring success. I see results. There is stuff happening, really good stuff, every week. I'm not sure you get that with a lot of disease charities. If you were donating to environmental causes for the past 20 years, do you think your money is doing anything? Because I don't,' he told the magazine.

Animal lover: Much of his time and attention has been dedicated to the well being of animals, and he runs a home for dogs (pictured are his two dogs Gerty and Columbo)

A highlight of the painful last few months was giving some freedom to the animals that used to be locked up in traveling zoos.

'I started to buy these zoos and circuses in December. I just wanted to have some days where I get to see animals walk in grass for the first time. Through PETA, we rescue animals in roadside zoos and circuses. They are some of the most abused animals in the country,' he said.

'Freeing those animals, that's something I'm not sure I would do if it weren't for the cancer.'